Radiant heat gas range burner



Jan. 27, 1959` F. o. HEss 2,870,828

' RADIANT HEAT GAS RANGE BURNER Filed Sept. 14. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 57 INVENTOR FREDERIC o. Hess Bxl-imm Jan. 27, 1959 F. o. HESS RADIANT HEAT GAS RANGE.' BURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1955 INVENTOR FREDERIC'O. Hess BY/Qa. )www ATTORNEY 2,810,828- RADLANT HEAT GAS RANGE BURNER Frederic' O. Hess, Philadelphia, Pa.,` assigner to Salas` Corporation of AmpericayPhiladelphia, Pa., a corpora-` tion of` Pennsylvania 1 Applicaficnsepremaer 14, wsa-serai No. 379,962

1 claim. (ci. iss-11s) Thelgeneral object'of the present invention is to provide Vimproved gas heatingapparatus andrnore speciiically stated, is to provide an improved gas iired cooking stove or range in which eiective use is `made of radiant heat developed by the combustion of ordinary house heating gasin the combustion space of a gas burnerhaving` a bottom Wall of refractory material andian upper wall of low` annular metallic element or manifold 9 surrounds the combustion chamber 7 and supports a horizontal disc a transparent glass, such as one of-the Well known Vycor brandfglasses, which is adaptedto withstandan operating temperature of l,800 F. t

Moretspeciiic objects of the invention are to provide simple and i effective means` for supplying a combustible mixture of air andf combustion-gastoV the combustion` spacesiof `my improved range burners,` and to provide simple and elective` means for controllingl the rate of combustion in each suchburner and for the removall of thel products of combustion formed inthe combustion spaces of the burners. t. rfhevarious featureslof novelty which characterizemyA invention are `pointed `out with particularity inthe claims annexed toand forming a part of this specication. For a better understanding of the` invention, however, its advantages, andy specific objectsattained with its use,` referenceshouldbe had to the accompanying drawings andi descriptive matterl in `which l have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

`Ot thetdrawings.:

Fig. l isla diagrammatic planview of a range orscook stove; t p

Eig. 2 is a section on `the line 2 2 of Fig.` l;

Fig. 2a illustrates a modiied connection'between glass plate and its support;

Figli-3 is a plan view in` section on the line 3-3 of FgpZ; t

Fig. 3a is a partial section `onthe line Zta-3a of Fig. 3;

Fig. iris` atdiagrammatic elevation partly in-section,

illustrating the application tothe burner shownlin Figs. 2;V and `3, of associated apparatus; t

Figs.` 5, 6, 7 and `8are vertical sections eachillustrating a "different burner modification; fand Pigi9 is a diagram illustratinga` spark `plug circuit arrangement.

In Fig. l I have diagrammatically illustratedby way off-example; a rangeor cooktstove comprising a top plate 1l,atpluralityof.burners 2, agas` supply pipe 3, anlexhaustipipe `4 for the discharge of products of combustion,`

and aplurality offrotatablevalve handles 5,` each of said handles being associated withandtcontrollingthe operatio'niof a corresponding one of `the'diierent burners. Thef burnersz may vary in` `formfantl `several different burner construction forms are illustrated by way of example in` theldrawings.` V t t In` the desirable burner embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 321,.the major elements of the burner structure comprise a refractory disc-6 of ceramici material, `which forms the bottom wall, andra` circular platefSof a `suitable transparent,` heat `resistant glass which forms Lthe' `top `wall of 1a combustin chamber-17. Alhol-U` lbene'ath and" directly supporting the refractorydisc 6. The manifold 9` ardfd-i's'c ltlmayadvantageously form integrally connected parts of an iron casting. The glass plate 8 is provided witha metallic rim elementi 11', which as shown,is1shaped iti-cross section andi has its upper and outwardly extending llange portion 11 beneath and screw connected ori other-'wise attached to an annular metallic element 12J The latter is rigidly connected as edgeof the annulus` 12 overlaps the outer edge portion oftheglass plate 8. However, in the desirable modified construction shown-infFig. 2a,` the upper corner portion of the glass plateiSis formed with a recess 15 intowhich the inner portion of the annulus 12 extends sothatthe top surface of the annulus is ilushwith the top surface of the glass `plate 8.

As` shown in Fig. 2 and also in Fig. 2a, the rim` member `11 surroundingthe glass? plate 8 has its lower portion spaced away from the member 9 to provideay circumferentialA air `inle'tport 16 through which atmospheric air isdrawn into the' combustion chamber 7 whengas pressure islow, as is hereinafter explained. A range ofthe character diagrannnatically illustrated in Fig. l, comprises a separate burner opening for each-of thefour burners 2. Eachsuch burner opening is large enough to receive the corresponding member 9, but its diameter is smaller than the outside diameter of the annular member 12 so thatthelatter is adapted to support the burner element.`

As is clearly4 shown in Fig. 3, the annular member 9 l is a hollow ringwith'avtangential extension 17 having asion 17. When operating conditions permit, the pressure `andvelocity of the gas dischargedby` the pipe 18 will `be sufficiently great to move enough atmospheric air into the chamber 9 to maintain' a mixture of air and gas in the chamber9 which properly proportioned .for complete combustion. Under that operating condition, there is no need to supply secondary air to the combustion chamber 7 through the peripherallinlet port 16; In consequence, the pressure in the chamber 9 may then be kepthigh enough tok prevent any signiicant ow of secondary air into th'e member 9`through the circumferential inlet 16.

inthe` apparatus shown in Fig. 2, and in Fig; 4, the` gaseous products of `corrrtmstion formed in the `combustion chamber 7 are.` discharged through a central open` ingin `the` disc 6 and a` registering `opening la in the disc` 10, and a discharge pipe 4a has its inlet end secured to the disc 10 and receives the gases passing ont of the chamber 7 through the port 7a. The pipe in may be` regarded as a branch of the pipe t` shown in Fig. l, which is-individual to the burner shown in Fig. 2. The gases passing from the chamber 7 into the pipe l-trz are quite hot, andare advantageously cooled prior to their ultimate discharge into the atmosphere. ln the con-` air-r willdlow'lcontinuously through the-pipe 1lb"I in'tothe pipe 4b cools the gaseous mixture owing through the pipe 4a.

When gas and air are supplied to the combustion chamber y7 in the proper ratio, it is possible in normal operation to continuously heat the ceramic disc 6 to incandescence so that the major portion of the heat emitted by the burner is radiant heat passing upward through the transparent glass plate 8 and heating that plate to a red hot temperature. Food placed directly on glass plate 8, or in a pan on that plate which is exposed to the heat rays passing throughand away from the glass plate will be rapidly cooked. As previously indicated, the well known, commercially available Vycor brand glass will withstand temperatures as high as l'800 F., and will withstand rapid variations in the temperature between normal atmospheric ltemperatures and temperatures of the order of 1800" F. The heating to incandescence of the ceramic disc 6 is facilitated and expedited by providing the disc with ribs 19 alternating with grooves 20 at the upper side of the disc 6. For optimum results, the ribs should be radial to the central port of the disc 6. v In the desirable form of the invention v'shown in Fig. 4, the discharge conduit 4a has its outer end extending centrally into the-inlet pipe 22 of an exhaust pump or blower 23. The space between the external surface of the discharge end of the `conduit 4a and the internal surface of the surrounding portion of the pipe 22, is sucient to permit an annular stream of atmospheric air to be com tinuously drawn into the pipe 22. The gaseous stream discharged `axially into the pipe 22, and the atmospheric air drawn into the pipe 22, are thoroughly mixed as they move through the exhaust pump 23. f

The relatively hot gaseous mixture discharged by the conduit 4a and the stream of atmospheric air drawn into the pipe 22 will be well mixed as they pass through the exhaust pump 23. In consequence, the gases passing away from the blower through its discharge pipe 24 will be at a desirably low temperature. The discharge pipe 24 of Fig. 4 may be connected to and discharge into the external atmosphere through the pipe 4, when the burner shown in Fig. 4 is part of a cooking range like that shown in Fig. 1. p Y

As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4, a vbutterfly valve or damper 25 is mounted in the discharge errd portion of the pipe 4a,v and is operatively connected to a valve 26. The latter may be a butterfly valve in the pipe 27 which supplies gas to the lburner shown in Fig. 4. The pipe 27 may be a branch of the gas pipe 3 shown in Fig. l. As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4, the valves 25 and 26 are arranged for simultaneous and proportional adjustments by rotation of a valve spindle which may be and is assumed to be one of the valve handles 5 shown in Fig. 1.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4, the spindles of the valves 26 and 25 are connected by a sleeve 28 which surrounds the adjacent endsof the two valve spindles, and normally is rigidly attached by set screws 29 and 30 to the separate spindles. As will be apparent, by loosening one of the set screws and rotating the spindle loosened relative to the sleeve 28, the relative positions of the valves 26 and 25 may be adjusted as operat ing `conditions make desirable. Y

As is shown in Fig. 5, secondary air may be passed into the combustion chamber 7 through an annular port 16a between the inner side of the annular member 9 and the outer edge of refractory disc 6- and of the disc 10 which is formed with a circular row of port a opening upwardly into the lower end of the annular port 16.11. The arrangement hsown in Fig. 5 may be advantageous in some cases, but ordinarilythe secondaryair admission ports as shown in Figs. 2, 2a and 4, are prefer-V able.

Fig. 6 illustrates a burner modication in which the glass plate 8 is radially extended so that its rim portion extends over and is directly supported by the chamber .9. Refractory disc 6 may be held in position in any suitable manner such as byV a plate 10 shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 illustrates a construction, which may bepractically desirable in some cases, in which a combustible fuel mixture is passed into the combustion chamber 7 through the central aperture 7b in the bottom wall of the burner and flows across refractory plate 6v so that the discharge of products of combustion takes place through one or more outlets 31.

Fig. 8 illustrates a burner construction which differs from the construction previously mentioned, in that the burner consists mainly of sheet metal part-s welded together. similar to the chamber 9a of the construction shownrin Fig. 2, has numerous wall parts welded together. Those parts comprise Outer and inner cylinders 35 and 36, an annular bottom plate 37, a top structure comprising an annulus 38, and an annular part 39 which rests on and may be screw connected to the annulus 38 and which serves the purpose of the annular plate 12 shown in Figs.

2 and 4. Chamber 9b is supplied with gas through Aan inlet 17b, shown diagrammatically, which can besimilar to member 17 of Fig. 2. The portion of the inner wall of the chamber 9b above the level of the transverse plate 10b, is an annular structure shown as comprising upper and lower annular parts 40 and 41. The parts 40and 41 may be made of ceramic material.

The plate 10 of Fig. 2 is replaced in Fig. 8 by a metali lic plate 10b which is welded to the upper edge of the .cylinder wall part 36. A rim portion of the wall` 10b extends into the space Y9b. The glass plate 8 is directly supported by an annular structure formed by the parts 40;" and 41 which is supported by and extends upwardly fromA l the rim portion of the plate 10b. As shown,.the upper annular part 40 is formed with a multiplicity of radial inlet ports 51 which open into the combustion chamber 7, and is of less radial extent andi-s smaller in diameter..

than the member 41. As shown, the member 40 is re-V ceived in a recess formed in the upper portion of the member 41. Products of combustion are drawn away from the combustion chamber 7 through a pipe 4c generally similarto Ithe pipe 4a .of Fig. 2. The u per Ainlet end portion of the pipe 4c extends through. axcentral v opening in the plate 10b and is welded to the latter. The ceramic disc 6 is spaced away from the annular structure comprising the parts 40 and 41 to provide secondary air inlets 42 of the character shown in Fig.`5. .The lower end portions of the inlets 42 receive atmospheric air through openings 42a formed in theplate 10b. .AS1 shown, a cylinder 43 concentric with andsmaller in di ameter than the wall 36, has its upper end weldedv to and depends from the plate 10b. The cylinder walls 36 and 43 form `a chamber open at it-s lower end to receive secondary air which passes into the combustion chamber 7y through the ports illustrated.

- In starting my improved burners into operation, use. may be made of conventional spark plugs 50, as shown` in Figs. 2 and 9. In the welded construction shown in Fig. 8, the spark plug 50a is held in a metallic` casing 52 which has its upper end welded tothe plate 10b. vThe spark plugs may be of one or another conventional form. Ordinarily, each spark plug may have its sparkpoints or electrodes connected in an energizing circuit including a battery or other source of current and a switch actuated byy a corresponding valve handle of the general type indicatedvin Fig. 1 and operative to close andn open the spark plug circuit when the fuel supply pipe is respecf tively `opened and closed. In some cases it may be 'practically desirable to include in each spark plug circuit a thermal switch for opening theA spark plug circuit in norf Thus the chamber 9b, which is functionally` mal operation after the temperature in the combustion t chamber is high enough to maintain the ignition of fuel gas continuously supplied to said chamber. Fig. 9 diagrammatically illustrates a spark plug arrangement of the character just mentioned. In Fig. 9, a pair of spark points or electrodes 53 and 54 are connected ina circuit including a battery 55. The latter has one terminal connected to the electrode 53 by a conductor 5'6 and has its second terminal connected by a conductor S7 to a switch contact 58. The latter may be manually connected to a second contact 59 by the angular adjustment or" a valve handle 5. The contact 59 is connected by a conductor 60 to the sta` tionary end 61 of a thermal switch member 62. The latter has its other end respectively in or out of engagement with a contact 63 connected to the spark point 54, accordingly as the member 62 is respectively at or substantially above atmospheric temperature. `ln regular operation, the thermal switch member 62 bends into the position shownv in dotted lines, and thus opens the circuit and avoids wastage of battery current when the combustion chamber temperature is high enough to maintain combustion without spark plug operation. The bi-metallic switch member 62 automatically returns to its full line position promptly on a predetermined decrease in its temperature produced when the temperature in the com bustion chamber falls below its normal operating temperature.

The single battery 55 shown in Fig. 9 can be used to maintain ignition in each of a plurality of different burners. To this end, one terminal of the battery may be connected to each of conductors 56a, 56h and 56e as well as to the conductor 56, and the other terminal of the battery may `be connected to each of conductors 57a, 57b and 57C as well as to the conductor 57. A separate spark plug may be connected between the conductors 56a and 57a, 56h and 57b or 56C and 57C, in series with a separate set of elements like the elements 53, 54, 58, 5, 59, 60, 61, 63 and 62 shown in Fig. 9.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may l be made in the forms of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claim and that in some cases certain features ofmy invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A radiant heat gas burner for use in a kitchen range,

said burner including means forming an annular manifold surrounding a combustion chamber, a substantially flat refractory member of annular shape and a substantially flat plate of glass mounted on said means and forming bottom and top walls respectively of said chamber, said plate of glass being resistant to temperatures of the order of 1,800" F., means to fasten s aid plate to said manifold, means forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports between said manifold and combustion chamber and through which the outer portion of said combustion chamber is in communication with said manifold, a iirst conduit extending up through said member from below it and having one end opening into the central portion of said chamber that is radially displaced from said ports, a second conduit opening into said manifold, and means: for passing a mixture of gas and combustion air into said chamber through the second mentioned of said conduits to burn in said chamber, said mixture traveling radially in all directions across said member, and means for drawing products of combustion away from said chamber through the rst mentioned of said conduits. i

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,233 Steinhol May 26, 1903 884,300 Stafford Apr. 7, 1908 1,144,785 Rector June 29, 1915 1,343,098 Stephens June 8, 1920 1,345,361 Good July 6, 1920 1,376,853 Baker May 3, 1921 1,639,114 Smith Aug. 16, 1927 1,735,654 ODowd Nov. 12, 1929 1,757,361 Engels May 6, 1930 2,172,469 Grigas Sept. l2, 1939 2,215,079 Hess Sept. 17, 1940 2,287,246 Hess June 23, 1942 2,417,606 Mitchell et al. Mar. 18, 1947 2,466,979 Bauer Apr. 12, 1949 2,495,481 Riehl Jan. 24, 1950 2,570,554 Henwood Oct. 9 1951 2,608,245 Clark Aug. 26, 1952 2,762,360 Knoy Sept. 11, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 370,589 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1932 797,619 France May 1, 1936 

